Mar 27

Mar 27 Educators honored by Davidson County Civitan Club

Jane Reifsteck (left) and Whitney Essick were honored with the Nancy S. Frazier Distinguished Teacher Award by the Davidson County Civitan Club. {Contributed photo/Gary Arnold}

Two teachers from Davidson County Schools were awarded the Nancy Sink Frazier Distinguished Teacher in Special Education Award.

Jane Reifsteck, retired from Southwood Elementary School, was to receive the honor in March 2020 but the ceremony was postponed just five days before the event due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reifsteck began her teaching career in 1980 and taught in several states before arriving in Davidson County in 2015.

Ashley C. Lemley, serving as principal at Southwood Elementary School in 2020, nominated Reifsteck stating, “Her students want to do well and do want to let their teacher down. Attending IEP meetings is almost a celebration. The students show such great growth.” Lemley described Reifsteck as a “caring, always positive, puts her heart and soul into teaching and dedicated beyond the expectation of the job.”

Whitney Essick of Northwest Elementary School was awarded the 2023 honor having taught for eleven years. Essick was nominated by Principal Mark Beasley who stated, “She was born to teach. Her students know they are loved and cared for each day, and they thrive in the environment she has created.”

Essick began her career at Stoner-Thomas School and moved to Northwest Elementary School three years ago to open the Adapted Curriculum. Essick is noted for her work to mold her school into one of inclusion and is known as a Unified Champion School. She organizes community based learning trips for her students and created a snack cart to raise funds for the trips.

There were two letters of support from parents of Essick’s students that glowed with praise of their children’s success in her class.

The late Mrs. Clarence Frazier, namesake of the teaching award, retired from Davidson-Davie Community College in May 2001, at age 71 and passed away February 21, 2002. Through the college Frazier taught compensatory education for 26 years on the campus of The Workshop of Davidson, Inc.

Frazier was described by Kara Cody, Executive Director of The Workshop of Davidson, Inc., as a wonderful teacher, dedicated, dependable, sincere, kind, gentle, and always looking for the good and positives in her students.

Davidson County Civitan Club President Shirley Link and mentor Linda McKay presented the teaching awards. Reifsteck and Essick each received a handsome personal plaque and a $200 contribution each for use by their respective schools in their exceptional children’s programs. A perpetual plaque listing all recipients is presented for display for one year to the school system represented by the winning teacher.

Candidates for the award must have taught in special education for at least five years in one of the three local school systems, be active or recently retired, and be nominated by their principal or supervisor.

In other awards, Natalie Little and Cathy Misenheimer, retired educators, were presented the Servant’s Heart Award from Civitan International.

Misenheimer served in several positions with Lexington City Schools including principal of several schools and was the Exceptional Children’s Director. Misenheimer has been a Special Olympics Davidson County volunteer for many years and is a past president of SODC.

Natalie Little retired from Davidson County Schools and is currently serving as President of Special Olympics Davidson County having also been a volunteer for many years.

All the honors were presented March 21 at Center United Methodist Church in Welcome. More than 130 people attended the event.

The four Civitan Clubs from the county jointly hosted teachers of exceptional children who have been invited as honored guests. Sponsoring clubs for the dinner included Davidson County, Silver Valley, Welcome and Thomasville.